Last season's 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Bryan Robson's Middlesbrough side saw Graham subjected to calls for his head from Tottenham fans after a shocking performance. His players had also surrendered a first-half lead to lose on Teesside and, given his propensity for scratching those itches that have really irritated him, the guarantee tonight is that the Scot will demand better.

Saturday's opening 3-1 win over promoted Ipswich provided some positives but victory over a Boro outfit high on confidence after their similar triumph at Coventry would send out a message of intent.

But the Spurs manager knows the first priority will be a more rigorous defensive display. Sol Campbell and Chris Perry's problems at the hands of David Johnson and Marcus Stewart were compounded by the midfield runs of Matt Holland and Jim Magilton on Saturday. Graham said: 'I've got players who like getting forward and I don't want to stop that. Darren Anderton, Tim Sherwood and Oyvind Leonhardsen like getting forward, Steve Carr is a breath of fresh air and Ben Thatcher likes to do it, too.

'There is a danger we could leak goals and maybe I have to try to hold some of them back.' One area Graham will want to improve is in the options available to new keeper Neil Sullivan when he collects the ball. Too often against Ipswich, Sullivan looked in vain for players he could deliver quickly to and the result was frequently a Wimbledon-style pump up the middle.

Graham has more attacking options now and the extra spring in Les Ferdinand's step after he came off the bench to score the match-clincher on Saturday was clear but Graham is likely to stick with Steffen

'Les looks more confident,' said Graham.'But we've still got to wrap him up in cotton wool.' Goalkeeper Ian Walker, however, has been challenged by Graham to fight for his place.

The Spurs boss said: 'It was a close call for who played against Ipswich and it will be a good battle if both accept the challenge. Ian accepts the situation and the battle will improve him as a footballer and a person.' Graham has also responded to criticism of him from David Ginola in the French winger's autobiography.